For most parents, worrying about replacing a child’s car seat is the last thing on their minds following a car accident. Most parents are rightfully concerned about the health and well-being of their children rather than any property damage. However, making sure a booster seat or safety seat is in good condition can help keep your child safe in the future. With that in mind, the Quad Cities injury lawyers at Winstein, Kavensky & Cunningham explain when to replace a child car seat and when not to.
When to Replace a Child Car Seat
The National Highway Traffic Safety Administration (NHTSA) recommends replacing car seats following a moderate or severe crash. Our lawyers support this recommendation, in addition to following manufacturer instructions. Furthermore, our team believes it is better to err on the side of caution, just in case structural damage to a child safety seat isn’t visible to your eyes.
While the definitions of a moderate or severe car crash are broad, you can use the following guidelines to help classify your accident. A car accident can be considered moderate or severe if:
- You cannot drive your car away from the accident site
- The door closest to the booster seat or child safety seat was damaged
- One or more passengers sustained injuries
- The airbags deployed due to impact (as opposed to a malfunction)
- There is visible damage to the booster or safety seat
If one or more of the conditions above applies to your car accident, you should immediately replace your child’s car seat.
When You Might Be Able to Keep a Child Car Seat
The NHTSA says car seats do not automatically have to be replaced after a minor car accident. The agency uses the following criteria to describe a minor crash:
- Your vehicle was able to be driven away from the crash site
- The vehicle door closest to the booster seat or child safety seat was undamaged
- You and your passengers did not suffer any injuries
- The airbags did not deploy
- There is no visible damage to the car seat
If all of the following conditions apply to your accident, you may be able to use your booster seat or safety seat still. However, the NHTSA and the Winstein, Kavensky & Cunningham staff also recommend being overly cautious. After all, replacing a child’s car seat is a small price for your child’s safety.
Recycle or Trade In Your Damaged Safety Seat
Some people throw damaged booster seats and safety seats into the trash. While that’s better than using potentially unsafe seats, damaged seats still have value. Some big box retailers, such as Target, accept damaged child car seats for trade-in. These retailers allow you to get store credit that can be used to replace a child’s car seat or purchase other baby products.
Many cities in Illinois and Iowa have recycling programs for damaged car seats. You can check with your city or local waste disposal company to find out. If your city does not recycle car seats, consider using a mail-in service.
Contact Winstein, Kavensky & Cunningham
The staff at Winstein, Kavensky & Cunningham hopes that you have a better understanding of when to replace a child’s car seat and when not to. More importantly, we hope you’re never in a situation where you have to consider the condition of a booster seat or safety seat because of an accident. Should you or your child suffer injuries from a car accident caused by another party, contact us immediately.
The Quad Cities injury lawyers at Winstein, Kavensky & Cunningham have been representing injury victims in Rock Island, Henry, Mercer, Whiteside, and Knox counties in Illinois or Scott, Clinton, Muscatine, Cedar, and Jackson counties in Iowa for more than 50 years. You can reach us by phone at (309) 794-1515 and online through LiveChat or encrypted contact form.
Call us today, and you’ll find out why Winstein, Kavensky & Cunningham is one of the most trusted law firms in the Quad Cities area.